What is the difference between Snapdragon 821 and Snapdragon 820?

Qualcomm did acknowledge the existence of a new high-end Snapdragon 821 SoC a few weeks back but didn’t detail what’s inside. Details are still sparse, but Qualcomm has surely opened up a bit more. So here are the improvements in Snapdragon 821 SoC compared to last year’s Snapdragon 820.

Features

Snapdragon 820

Snapdragon 821

Performance Core cluster

2x Kryo 2.15 GHz

2x Kryo 2.34 GHz

Power Core Cluster

2x Kryo 1.59 GHz

2x Kryo 2.19 GHz

GPU

Adreno 530 624 MHz

Adreno 530 653 MHz

Modem

600 Mbps X12 LTE modem

600 Mbps X12 LTE modem

Fast charging standard

Quick Charge 3.0

Quick Charge 3.0

Key Improvements in Snapdragon 821

Snapdragon 821 will be 5 percent more power efficient compared to 820

Smartphones powered by Snapdragon 821 would be compatible with Google’s Day Dream VR standard

Includes support for Dual Phase Detection Autofocus system that will help with better focusing speeds compared to conventional PDAF.

Asus Zenfone 3 Delux is the first smartphone to ship with the new Snapdragon 821 SoC. Upcoming HTC Nexus phones are also expected to include the new SoC. The point being, we will know if these marketing bullet points hold water soon enough.

The author spent a significant chunk of his formative years resisting technology. He now keeps an eye on where the world is heading to and drives a passive pleasure from this indulgence. His passion for writing, learning and growing drives him each day. When his day ends, he enjoys the pleasant languor and detoxifies with family.